28 March 2004	Sunday	06 Safar 1425

ISLAMABAD, March 27: Chairman, Higher Education Commission (HEC), Prof Attaur Rehman, on Saturday said rubber, plastic and polymer technology should be introduced in public-sector universities and institutions of higher learning in the country.

He was speaking at the inaugural session of the one-day training programme on rubber, plastic and polymer testing technology organized by Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) in collaboration with Gibitre, Italy and Techno World Pakistan here at a local hotel, said an official statement.

Dr Rehman said this was an emerging new field for analytical chemists, engineers and technologists of Pakistan. Rubber, plastic and polymer products have wide applications and are being used in almost all fields of life ranging from consumable products to highly sophisticated machines being used in the field of material sciences, electronics, automobiles, steel mills, paper mills etc.

Under WTO/ISO certification regime quality control and quality assurance of all products including rubber, plastic and polymer products is a pre-requisite for export/import purposes.

The use of rubber, plastic and polymer products all over the world is increasing day by day due to a number of reasons.

In Pakistan at present there are inadequate facilities in R&D institutions/universities/industries for testing of rubber, plastic and polymer products.

Realizing the need, the PCSIR has established a rubber technology centre in its laboratories complex in Karachi.

During the seminar emphasis is going to be given to the topics including types of test required for rubber, plastic and polymer products, factors influencing test results, production cycle and control of rubber, plastic and polymer products and tensile properties.

The training component for the seminar has been designed for chemists/engineers/technologists working in the capacity of managers/lab in charges and would help them to understand and supervise quality assurance system in their establishment.

About 45 scientists, engineers, technologists from different public and private-sector organizations including Heavy Mechanical Complex (HMC) Taxila; Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad; Nust Rawalpindi; Peshawar University, POF Wah, Pinstech, NESC Islamabad and international polymer industries have been invited to attend the seminar.